If your piece is marked “Nippon,” then it was made and imported between 1891 and 1921. If it is marked “Japan”, then your piece was made and imported after 1921. The mark may tell you where your piece was made and if you know the history of understanding pottery marks, then the mark can help you date your piece too.

How old is china marked Nippon?

For years, this knowledge was an easy rule of thumb collectors used to their benefit. Any mark with Nippon had to be made before 1921 when the word was banned from U.S. imports. This rule held true until the early 1980s when new porcelain began appearing with marks containing the word Nippon.

What does Nippon mean on china?

Both Nippon and Nihon literally mean the suns origin, that is, where the sun originates, and are often translated as the Land of the Rising Sun. This nomenclature comes from Imperial correspondence with the Chinese Sui Dynasty and refers to Japans eastern position relative to China.

How can you tell Nippon China?

If your piece is marked “Nippon,” then it was made and imported between 1891 and 1921. If it is marked “Japan”, then your piece was made and imported after 1921. The mark may tell you where your piece was made and if you know the history of understanding pottery marks, then the mark can help you date your piece too.

Does Nippon China have any value?

Some undecorated pieces of Nippon are only worth a few dollars. Some pieces command between $100 and $500 depending on the piece, condition, decoration, and other factors. The value of a piece of Nippon porcelain is in the quality, size, type, and condition of the decoration and other aspects of the item too.

Is china from occupied Japan valuable?

A: Your little ceramic shoes are stamped “Made in Occupied Japan.” While they do not have high monetary value, they are examples of a fascinating period in post-World War II Japan. Your little pair of ceramic shoes was made during this period. You can tell from the photographs that they were never “fine” china.